The First Sunday of Advent [C]
Jer 33:14-16  +  1 Thes 3:12—4:2  +  Lk 21:25-28,34-36
December 2, 2018

The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made….

In the Old Testament, the greatest enemy of ancient Israel was not the Babylonians, or the Philistines, or the Persians.  The greatest enemy of Israel was Israel herself, split between two kingdoms, Judah and Israel.  Nonetheless, these kingdoms were united in their longing for the coming of the Messiah. Continue reading →

Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time [II]
Revelation 14:1-3,4-5  +  Luke 21:1-4
November 26, 2018

“… but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

We live in a society in which values that are contrary to the Gospel are canonized.  A person’s value is measured in economic terms.  The poor are shunned as worthless. Continue reading →

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe [B]
Dan 7:13-14  +  Rev 1:5-8  +  Jn 18:33-37
November 25, 2018

To Him… who has made us into a kingdom, priests for His God and Father, to Him be glory and power forever and ever.  Amen.

If “Michael” is the question, then “Jesus” is the answer.  The name “Michael” literally means, “Who is like God?”  In sacred art, Saint Michael the Archangel is usually shown in conquest over the devil, who believes that the answer to the question is “Me”.  The devil believes that he is like God. Continue reading →

Reflections on the Sacred Liturgy
Volume I: Lent & Holy Week

is now available!

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Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time [II]
Revelation 1:1-4;2:1-5  +  Luke 18:35-43
November 19, 2018

When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

Today we begin hearing at weekday Mass from the Book of Revelation.  We will continue to hear from this book through the last day of the Church year.  This is fitting since Revelation is the last book of the Bible, and treats of the “Last Things”, although in a highly mysterious manner. Continue reading →

The Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]
Dn 12:1-3  +  Heb 10:11-14,18  +  Mk 13:24-32
November 18, 2018

“At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people….”

When we step back from the normal press of daily life, breathe deeply, and reflect on everything in order to gain some perspective, we can either look backwards to the past, or forward to the future.  A great deal of our spiritual lives as Catholics focuses on the past:  the Old and New Testaments, and the history of Jesus’ Church with all her saints.  But what about the future?  For us, as Christians, how do we look at the future?  To a large degree, the average Christian connects the future with getting his soul to Heaven. Continue reading →

St. Josaphat, Bishop & Martyr
Titus 1:1-9  +  Luke 17:1-6
November 12, 2018

Such is the race that seeks for Him, that seeks the Face of the God of Jacob.

The refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm is a good one to memorize and use throughout the day for repeated recitation and reflection.  “Lord, this is the people that longs to see your Face.”  This refrain has many words that one might focus upon in meditation.  But consider just the final phrase:  “…that longs to see your Face.”  There are two verbs here, and one noun. Continue reading →

The Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]
I Kgs 17:10-16  +  Heb 9:24-28  +  Mk 12:38-44
November 11, 2018

Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by hands….

The French Catholic writer Léon Bloy once said that “there is only one tragedy in life:  not to be a saint.”  There is a profound difference between being a saint and not being a saint.  This distinction might sound obvious.  But it’s not as obvious as it seems. Continue reading →